Scholar Entries - Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois

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Are you a past recipient of an Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund award?

Name

Willhelene White

Current Mailing Address

935 garner spring ln
sugar hill, GA 30518
United States
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Permanent Address (only if different from Current Mailing Address)

sugar hill, GA 30518
United States
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Phone

(470) 701-8641

Connection to Illinois

None

In what city do you intend to practice law upon graduation?

Georgia

Name of Law School

Georgia State University

Class year

1st year law student

Full Time or Part Time Student?

Part Time

Date you began attending THIS law school

10/06/2026

Anticipated Graduation Date

10/03/2028

Current GPA

None

Name of Undergraduate Institution

Universidad Bicentenaria de Aragua

Degree (BA, BSE, etc.) and Concentration/Major

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) – Law

Undergraduate Graduation Date

05/15/2016

GPA

16.73

Undergraduate Honors, Awards, or Special Recognitions

I received an academic award for completing my law degree in four years instead of the standard five-year program, graduating ahead of schedule.

Were you employed in 2025?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

Solano Law Firm – Immigration Law (Paralegal)

What was your immediate family’s (including you and your spouse or domestic partner, if applicable) estimated income from all sources for the 2025 Tax Year?

38,000

Do you expect to be employed in 2026?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

Part time - Solano Law Firm – Immigration Law (Paralegal)

Please estimate your immediate family’s (including you and your spouse or domestic partner, if applicable) income from all sources for the 2026 Tax year

28,000

Please estimate your parent's average annual household income over the last five years

Do your parents own or rent their home? Please describe, if necessary

They live in Venezuela

Describe your parents' health insurance situation. Do they have employer-sponsored health insurance, health insurance through the exchange, or no health insurance?

Healthy, they live outside USA

LIST below your total EXPENSES for attending law school for ONE YEAR (Please refer to example in FAQs)

Total Tuition Cost $

20,170

Books Cost $

1900

Fees Cost $

890

Housing Cost $

Food Cost $

1900

Other Costs $ (describe)

So far, gasoline

Total Expenses $ (add above entries)

22,960

LIST below your total FUNDING sources you plan to use to pay for these expenses (Please refer to example in FAQs)

Student Loans $

Scholarships and Grants $

Work Study, if any $

Personal Contribution (Savings/Employment) $

9000

Family Contribution $ (include parents, spouse, partner, etc.)

Other Sources $ (describe)

Total Funding $ (add above entries)

9000

For 2Ls and 3Ls, what is your current TOTAL loan debt from the previous law school years?

Please list any community service activities with which you have been involved in the last ten years, paying particular attention to activities in support of the Hispanic community. For each activity, please include the dates of your participation, a short description of the organization and the community they serve, and a description of the activity you performed to help them. (Please read FAQs before completing)

Since 2023, I have been involved with Fundación Principito, a nonprofit organization that supports children in need in Venezuela. The foundation focuses on collecting essential supplies such as food, clothing, and basic necessities to assist vulnerable children and families within underserved communities.

Although I am not currently active in on-site activities, I continue to support the foundation by collecting and donating supplies. My involvement reflects an ongoing commitment to community service and to supporting children and families in need, particularly within the Venezuelan and Hispanic community.

Please provide a statement describing your background and focus your statement on your reasons for pursuing a legal career and your legal career goals. This statement is important. Please give it appropriate attention. (min. 1000 characters) (Please read FAQs before completing)

My decision to pursue a legal career is deeply rooted in my personal history, academic training, and professional experience. I earned my law degree in Venezuela, where I developed a strong foundation in legal analysis, critical thinking, and professional responsibility. From early on, I understood the role of the legal profession as a tool to promote fairness, stability, and access to justice. However, political and economic instability in my home country ultimately forced my family and me to make the difficult decision to immigrate to the United States in search of safety and long-term opportunity.

Immigrating to the United States four years ago required rebuilding my life and professional path from the ground up. Adapting to a new language, culture, and legal system was challenging, but it strengthened my resilience and reaffirmed my commitment to the legal field. I invested significant effort in improving my English proficiency and pursuing continued education to prepare myself for professional growth within the U.S. legal system.

For the past three years, I have worked at an immigration law firm, where I have gained hands-on experience assisting immigrant individuals and families navigating complex legal processes. Through this work, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that competent and compassionate legal representation can have on people’s lives. This experience has solidified my desire to continue building a legal career focused on service, ethics, and advocacy, particularly within immigrant and underserved communities.

My long-term goal is to pursue an LL.M. degree and sit for the Georgia Bar Exam in order to become a licensed attorney in the state of Georgia. The LL.M. represents a critical bridge between my foreign legal education and the U.S. legal system, providing the academic rigor and training necessary to practice law effectively in this jurisdiction. Through this advanced degree, I aim to strengthen my legal skills, expand my understanding of U.S. law, and position myself to contribute meaningfully to the legal profession.

Ultimately, my goal is to use my legal training to serve the community with integrity, professionalism, and dedication. I am motivated by the belief that the law can be a powerful instrument for positive change when applied responsibly. My background as an immigrant, combined with my academic preparation and professional experience, has shaped my commitment to pursuing a legal career focused on justice, service, and long-term impact.

Please upload a copy of your financial award letter labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.FinAwardLtr*

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White.Willhelene.FinAwardLtr.pdf

Please upload a copy of your resume labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.Resume*

Please upload a copy of your law school transcript labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.LSTranscript*